BCB announces Tk 2 crore for Tigresses

BCB President Nazmul Hasan made the announcement at a reception hosted by the BCB to the Tigresses at Sonargaon Hotel upon their return from Malaysia on Monday evening, reports UNB.

Bangladesh women’s team landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the afternoon amid huge enthusiasm among the cricketers, organisers and cricket lovers.

The team directly drove to Sonargaon Hotel to join the reception.

Addressing the reception, the BCB chief said every member of the women’s team will initially receive Tk 10 lakh.

He also assured the female cricketers of enhancing their salary and other benefits very soon.

It is mentionable that each of 17 players in the national squad has been being paid Tk 10,000 to 30,000 (USD 120 to 360) per month for the last few years since the salary structure came into place in 2012. For an ODI, they are paid USD 100 per game and USD 75 for a T20 international.

Bangladesh women’s cricket team have written their names into the country’s cricket history in red letters by clinching a first-ever international trophy, the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, shocking six times champions India by three wickets in the final in the last ball thriller Sunday afternoon.

This was another historic occasion for Bangladesh cricket on Malaysian soil, after the men’s cricket team clinched the ICC Trophy beating Kenya by two wickets in the final in Kuala Lumpur in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time some twenty-one years ago.

Bangladesh women clinched their dream trophy in the continental meet, in the process ending giant neighbour India’s hegemony in the region by beating the six-time Asian champions twice -- first by seven wickets in the league match and then memorably by three wickets in a last-ball thriller in the final.

The immediate impact on the team is an injection of confidence ahead of July's World T20 Qualifiers in the Netherlands after winning the five consecutive matches in the just concluded Women’s Asia Cup -- over India (twice), Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Sylhet, Chattogram, Rajshahi and Rangpur have given the status of regional cricket associations.